Government Information

http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/IN10108.pdf

Describes the efforts of DC leaders to pass legislation that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana, provides a map which shows which states have passed laws decriminalizing marijuana or have passed medical marijuana laws, presents arguments for and against decriminalization, and examines controversies involving home rule.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jul2014/nida-17.htm

Agency press release about the creation of a National Drug Early Warning System, funded by the National Institutes of Health at the University of Maryland and targeted at social media sites, to monitor emerging trends that will  help health experts respond quickly to outbreaks of illicit drugs.  From the National Institutes of Health

http://www.childstats.gov/pdf/ac2014/ac_14.pdf

Statistical snapshot of key indicators of child well-being in the areas of economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, and education.  From the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0626-excessive-drinking.html

Press release which attributes excessive drinking as the cause of approximately 88,000 deaths per year from 2006 to 2010 and shortened the lives of those who died by about 30 years.  Includes links to detailed statistical tables.  From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/earlyrelease201406.pdf

Provides estimates for 15 selected health measures and trends from 1997 through 2012 for comparison.  From the National Center for Health Statistics

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss6304.pdf

Presents the results of the latest survey of six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults including tobacco, alcohol and drug use, physical inactivity, and sexual behaviors that lead to unintended pregnancies or STDs. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812013.pdf

Totals up the exorbitant costs—lost lives, damaged property, medical costs, workplace losses and more—attributed to traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2010 and estimates the total sum is about $277 billion.  The value of society harm is placed at $870 billion.  From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcohol_report/en/

Provides an overview of alcohol consumption in relation to public health, information on the consumption of alcohol by country, the health consequences of drinking alcohol, and policy responses at the national level.  From the World Health Organization